Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Would You Weigh Less in an Elevator?

For Students 9th - 10th
Video that uses an elevator in motion to describe the relationship among weight, gravity, and relative motion. [3:36] Includes a short quiz and a list of additional resources to explore.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Sliding Textbooks

For Teachers 5th - 7th
In this culminating activity of the unit which highlights how forces play a role in engineering design and material choices, students explore and apply their knowledge of forces, friction, acceleration, and gravity in a two-part experiment.
Article
Other

Bscs: Forces and Motion Content Background Document

For Teachers K - 1st
In this document, we will try to answer a fundamental question of physical science, "Why do things start to move, slow down, speed up, stop moving or change direction?" In answering these core questions we can develop concepts that can...
Website
University of Virginia

Uva Physics: Using Vectors to Describe Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
Background information on vectors and their use in describing motion in two dimensions. A comparison of Aristotle's and Galileo's perspectives on force and motion is given.
Activity
University of Minnesota

The Physics of Flight: Bernoulli's Principle

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses air flow around the wing of a plane and its effect upon the lift and drag forces. Focuses on the application of Bernoulli's principle to wing design and the subsequent airfoil shapes.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: What Is Weight?

For Students 9th - 10th
This article on weight will help you prepare for the AP Physics test. Included are example problems to help you practice.
Website
University of St. Andrews (UK)

University of St. Andrews: Orbits and Gravitation

For Students 9th - 10th
A page describing the physics, mathematics, and historical figures associated with planetary motion, satellite motion, and universal gravitation.
Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: Fundamentals of Physics

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of video lectures from a fundamentals of physics course taught at Yale University. The course is an introduction to physics and discusses Newtonian mechanics, special relativity, gravity, thermodynamics, and waves. Course...
Handout
Upper Canada District School Board

Tom Stretton's Chemistry Pages: Universal Gravitation

For Students 9th - 10th
Deepen your understanding about the Law of Universal Gravitation. Find out how the many scientists throughout history contributed to one of the most widely known scientific theories.
Handout
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Satellite Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
An animation depicting the path of projectiles launched at various launch speeds from the fictional Newton's Mountain. Accompanying text discusses satellite motion and the requirements of orbital motion. Links to further information is...
Activity
Science Bob Pflugfelder

Science Bob: The Lincoln High Dive

For Students 5th - 8th
Instructions for a science demonstration of Newton's first law of motion using common supplies. Learn how to turn the demonstration into an experiment.
Handout
University of St. Andrews (UK)

University of St. Andrews: Isaac Newton (1643 1727)

For Students 9th - 10th
This life of Isaac Newton' traces his life from birth through childhood to his rise as a renown scientist and mathematician.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA uses a colorful graphic to illustrate why objects reach terminal velocity. Provides equation for the terminal velocity of an object. Graphic is accompanied by a simple explanation.
eBook
Other

Wikibooks: Physics Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
A handy resource that gives an overview of equations and definitions pertinent to an introductory, college-level physics course, with two of its three sections focusing on motion-related topics and principles.
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Interactive Physics for High School

For Students 9th - 10th
This digital textbook covers core physics concepts and includes interactive features, real world examples, videos, and study guides.
Activity
Center of Science and Industry

Cosi Columbus: Balloon Rockets [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
Science experiment that demonstrates Newton's Third Law by launching rockets made out of balloons. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of what causes balloons to shoot forward and how you can make them...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Walk the Tightrope

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Understand the concept of rotational inertia [moment of inertia) by analyzing the motion of a circus tightrope walker using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also...
eBook
NASA

Nasa: The Way Things Fall

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA compares free falling motion to falling with air resistance. Discusses Galileo's experiment. Explains why we believe all objects free fall with the same acceleration.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Forces in Action

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains weight and gravity and engages students in activities using force and motion.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Sir Isaac Newton

For Students 9th - 10th
(1642-1727) English natural philosopher, mathematician, and physicist most famous for gravity and his laws of motion.
Unknown Type
Physics Aviary

Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Billy on Hill (Level 2)

For Students 9th - 10th
Students must predict the distance traveled by a person on a sled. The person will start with potential energy due to gravity and then lose some energy on a hill. They will then lose the remaining energy on a level surface. You have to...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Solar System!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
An introduction to our solar system: the planets, our Sun and our Moon. Students begin by learning the history and engineering of space travel. They make simple rockets to acquire a basic understanding Newton's third law of motion. They...
Website
MadSci Network

The Mad Scientist Network: Bouncing Rubber Ball

For Students 9th - 10th
A question and answer format is used to relate elastic potential energy to the bounce of a rubber ball. Explanation of this simple phenomenon is thorough, complete, and free of trite statements.
Unknown Type
Physics4kids

Physics 4 Kids: Work Quiz

For Students 9th - 10th
Take this ten question multiple choice quiz on the physics of work.